Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-02
rrhe Right of Translation is Reserved
CHAPTER xxx1x.-A DISCOVERY.

be, and that he held and hoped to play 6
winning card, it Glanced that on the very
day after MelAnie had permitted him tt
wiring from her the species Of half-prom
Use, an unforeseen event occurred.
The dispatch-bcx had been brought, g:
usual, little before breakfast time, from
the village postofice and placed in the
hands of Mr.. Grimshsw, who alone pos
sessed the key thereof.
The Indian mail was due, but poor
Meianie, despite what she had said on the
preceding day when tortured by her IN
cle's teunts, having ceased to hope for
in its appearance, but busted her
self with the coffee equipsge till
her uncle drew forth an impor-
tant-looking packet, the size and address
OF which seemed TO puzzle him, and cause
him to knit his heavy, griZzled eyebrows;
and it certainly excited the curiosity CT
herself and her brother Reggie, who had
been wheeled over in his chair from the
Hall tnst morning, and was most oppor-
timely present.
The packet wss addressed to the latter
as "Lieutenant Reginald Talbot, r. NJ"
which made his hollow checks mantle
with pleasure, as he thought Of the past
time; and 1t was, moreover, enclosed IL
large envelope inscribed "On Her Ms
iesty's Service"
Reginald opened the unexpected packet,
without examining the Indian postal
marks thereon, and the first object he
drew forth was 8 long and bulky letter
addressed to Melsnie-a letter which
Lonsdsle had taken the precaution TO
put also in an orderlY-room envelope to
battle Uncle GrinshSw, whom he had be-
gun, but most unwillingly, to suspect st
last.
1t was the letter he had written, half
deepsiringly, in Fort William on the night
before the emharkation of the Bengal
column, in which-with all his latest
neWs-he assured her of his unaltered sf-
lection, his hopes End wishes for their
mutual future, his fears and anxiety for
herself and her happiness at home, amid
all she had to contend with; his sorrow
a1d dismay that he had never received
even one letter from her; and Melanie
read on and on, and read and re-read the
words again, forgetful OF those who
watched her-forgetful of ell but the low
ing letter she held IN her tremulOus
fingers, and ohlivious of the little gifts
that accompanied it, as Reggie drew them
forth-the Brahmin charm for himself, the
gold dog whistle for Dick, the massive
gold coin for Uncle Grimshsw, the bangles
and necklet for Melanie herself, VINO, in
her energy and absorption, began in low
and broken voice that part Of the letter
which enumerated the many miss.ves he
had posted ct various points, and as none
of them had been returned to him by the
10 dnd hat hon
must have reached their destination and
been tempered with there, and added
that he was determined to put the matter
before Her MajestY's Postmaster Gen
ersl.
Meanwhile, the face of Uncle Grim
shaw, who wiped his bald and shiny pate
with silken bandana. was a picture of
confusion. se he found that he had been
thus Unexpectedly bsffl I'd in his selfish
hopes, when they seemed to have been
so near 1ruitionj that be had been thus
discovered, and confounded, in series
of acts that were actual felonies-the
suppression Or destruction Of letters,
But Melsnie, absorbed in what she read,
with eyes that were brimming and blinded
with tears of Joy, did not note his face;
but Reggie did, and drew his deductions
therefrom.
So did even Dick, who ioyously blew
his gold whistle repeatedly, and seemed
to be wholly intent on balancing piece
of toast on Bingo's nose, while secretly
considering wnere to procure another
hedgehog for his kind uncle's behoof, as
the wasp's-nest had proved rather 8
troublesome affair Tor the household gen.
orally.
The keen, dark and searching eyes of
Reggie were turned upon his kinsman
with very unmistsksble expression OF
triumph, scorn and inquiry combined.
"To me ell this is ncomprehensible-
utterly incomprehensible!" exclaimed
Mr.. Grimshaw, viciously rasping up his
side tufts, feeling, in his desperation, q
necessity for saying something.
$50 incomprehensible that it is 8 mat
ter for the police; don't you think so,
Bingo?n said Dick in low voice, heed
less of the savage glance dsrted ct him by
his uncle, whose nerves he further upsetby
q shrill and protracted blast on his new
dog whistle.
"What would you suggest, Reginald?"
asked Mr. Grimshsw, in q rather broken
voice, ignoring the impudence OF Dick,
and thinking of the long earsiattributed to
alittle pitchers
.sI would suggest the abolition of the
dispatch box; chuck it overheard" re-
pile Reggie, quite coolly. "Also, that in
future Melanie should post her letters by
hand"
Mr.. Grimshaw felt keenly ell this reply
Inferred, and while his heart swelled
with rancour st and dislike If not positive
hate of the speaker, he wished himself,
lust then, st the North Pole, Jericho, or
any distaDtregion.
GHe knew himself to be double
traitor, and covered in his own sight, |
and in the sight of al, except his coadju- |
tor, Mrs sChlllingtoR, when they met, and |
felt that he hsd lost sll the little self-re-
spect ne had possessed since he left the |
dingy recesses of Birchin-lane, where,
like many others: he had learned
<eThSt 'tis the Doblest work OF man
OIL his pockets IL he car;
sfnat broken fsfth ard friends betrayed
Are rought compared with ,Tosp rous U6de
erhst hoaour's b1s an empty name,
And wealth is better far than fame"
Yet there was necessity for assuming 8
pretty bold front, If 1t was possible, nov:
and also assuming virtue, though he
had it not.
al do not understand your impairment
said he, sharply, to Reg
gle. whom he now losthed more thSp
ever. 81 hsve usually played my part in
the game of life well and openly"
eyes, but you have won by tricks
rather than by honours, UNCLE" was tue
arN1xT